I am very grateful for the EGSA-AÉDÉ Academic Support Grant I received in Fall 2018. The grant helped me attend the 5-day international conference of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT). Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based health behavior change counseling model that is used in many languages and countries. I have used MI in a rural family medicine practice. MI is also the main focus of my graduate work in the MEd. Health Professions Education stream.

The conference structure offered many opportunities for learning and networking. I attended interesting workshops about using this model in educational settings, healthcare, counseling, research, and interprofessional education. I especially appreciated workshops that advanced our practice as MI trainers. I was surprised how much I enjoyed and learned in a two-day workshop about assessing practitioners’ use of MI. The instructors created the assessment tool 30 years ago, translated it into French, and modified it through many iterations. They shared a wealth of knowledge about how assessment tools can work and evolve. I was inspired by their creative and engaging teaching strategies for a topic that could have been very dry. Because the organization is a community of practice, I was also able to learn about ways that this kind of learning community can be developed and sustained.

Understanding people’s values and experiences is central to MI; the conference organizers choose locations where we get to have new experiences as a group. Being in the center of the French Quarter in New Orleans on Halloween was a quite an experience! There was music everywhere, lots of costumes, friendly people, interesting and difficult history, great food and opportunities to make real connections with people attending the conference.

On October 9th, 2018, I was kindly invited to the University of Alberta, Edmonton to teach a B. Ed class (EDSE 307) entitled “Language, Literacy and Society in Educational Contexts”. The module of the topic I was assigned was called “Scaffolding Language Production”. Given its rather broad scope, I chose to present multimodal ways of instruction to accommodate and/or scaffold for English Language Learners (ELLs). Although I have been a science teacher for over 20 years, I was informed that the B. Ed students in the class (about to commence their practicums in secondary schools), were mostly aspiring teachers of English, social studies, music, art, second language, design & technology, and PE. No one in the class was a prospective science teacher. Therefore, I re-directed my presentation towards teacher practices and scaffolding techniques which would benefit all students, not only ELL students in the classroom. The instructional methodology that I advocated was multi-modal teaching (i.e. the use of visual, audio, text or speech, movement etc.). Continue reading Using Multi-Modal Teaching for English Language Learners (ELLs): Benefits for All Students!→

Are you struggling with the transition to grad school? Having trouble finding the resources you need? Wondering how to get a TA or RA position? Come to the first ever panel on Thriving in Graduate School, hosted by your colleagues in Masters and PhD programs on Thursday, Sept 27th, at 12 pm. Due to the sensitive nature of this workshop, this session will only be held in person and will not be audio recorded.

Are you looking to get involved? Build your academic and professional networks? Gain experience while serving your community? The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the EGSA-AÉDÉ is where the direction of the Association is set (in broad terms) for the upcoming academic year (2017-2018). Members commit to portfolios and standing committees. As a volunteer driven organization, we are always looking for new volunteers to help us fulfill our mission of building community for our student body at the Faculty of Education! There are lots of ways to contribute, including:

Creating and promoting workshops for skills development

Planning social events for your colleagues and classmates

Proofreading, editing, or laying out the newsletter

Advocating on behalf of students

Supporting other students in their graduate school journey

Managing the website and our social media presence

The AGM is also where elections are held for any vacant external representative positions.

Currently, the following external representative positions are available:

The external representative shall make reasonable efforts to attend the meetings of the committee or council to which she was elected. If she is unable to attend a meeting, she shall inform the Association so that a replacement may be found.

The external representative shall make reasonable efforts to attend the meetings of the Association Committee (“EGSA-AÉDÉ Meetings”) to report on the activities of the committee or council to which she was elected. If she is unable to attend, she shall provide her report to the chair so that it may be presented.

Election procedure

To become a candidate for a position, interested members may nominate themselves or others for a position by e-mail to the chair or by a declaration during the position’s nomination period at the AGM

Candidates shall have an amount of time designated by the chair to present themselves for a position. All candidates for the same position shall receive equal time to present.

Candidates who are unable to be present for the AGM (“absentee candidate”) may submit a brief text to the chair, who shall present it to the AGM on the candidate’s behalf. If the chair is running against an absentee candidate, the text shall be read by another member present.

Elections shall be conducted by secret ballot.

In the case of an uncontested position, the vote shall be a Yes or No vote.

In the case of a vote where no candidate has a majority, the lowest candidate shall be dropped from the ballot and the vote be retaken

Posts navigation

About the EGSA

The Faculty of Education’s Graduate Students’ Association (EGSA) serves a diverse student body of M.A., M.Ed, and Ph.D. students, as well as students in the Graduate Certificate Programs, such as Program Evaluation and Health Professions Education.

Our aims:

» Promote community among graduate students in our Faculty.

» Improve the student experience (through support, and both social and academic events).

» Help students access the information they need to navigate the graduate journey.

» Advocate on behalf of our students.

In order to fulfill our aims, we have an Executive and strike committees that organize specific events, such as grad nights, intramural sports, retreats, invited speakers, and workshops.

If you have any suggestions or ideas for events you would like to see taking place, send us an email!